和十二生肖有关习惯用语趣谈.doc

和十二生肖有关习惯用语趣谈Ratsmell a rat觉得可疑I smelt a rat when he started being so helpful!the rat race激烈的竞争Living in a big city is one big rat race.play cat and mouse with sb.欲擒故纵，(像猫抓耗子似地)欺负(折磨、虐待)某人The policeman decided to play cat and mouse when he saw the womansteal the dress in the store.Oxa bull in a china shop经常闯祸的人，笨手笨脚的人Hes like a bull in a china shop, always knocking things over.take the bull by the horns不畏艰险You cant just sit back in a situation like this. You should takethe bull by the horns.like a red rag to a bull使愤怒Any statement against the government is like a red rag to a bullto that minister.till the cows come home永远地，无限期地If youre waiting for him to pay you, youll wait till the cowscome home!kill the fatted calf热情款待，设宴欢迎He welcomed me at home by killing the fatted calf.Tigerpaper tiger貌似强大而实质虚弱的敌人As long as we are not afraid of this kind of threat, the papertigers true face will come out in the wash.Harehunt with the hounds and run with the hare同时支持相对立的两派,脚踩两只船Which team are you going to support? Make up your mind now. Youcant hunt with the hounds and run with the hare.Dragonsow (the) dragons teeth挑起纠纷或引起争端Wherever he went, he sowed (the) dragons teeth by preachingracial segregation.Snakea snake in the grass潜伏的危险或敌人，阴险而伪善的朋友How could I ever trust that snake in the grass?Horsehold your horses忍耐，克制，别急躁Dont get so angry. Just hold your horses and find the appropriatesolution.put the cart before the horse本末倒置Surely youre putting the cart before the horse by buying all thisfurniture before youve got the house.flog a dead horse徒劳，浪费精力Youll just be flogging a dead horse if you try to make her changeher mind about it.high horse自大，盛气凌人When the president visited his hometown in the remote village, herode the high horse among the local people.Sheepa wolf in sheeps clothing披着羊皮的狼，伪装善良的坏人Mrs. Martin trusted the lawyer until she realized that he was awolf in sheeps clothing.as well be hanged for a sheep as (for) a lamb一不做，二不休；索性蛮干Dad said I was to be home from the dance by eleven oclock, but Ienjoyed myself so much that it was midnight before I realized it, soI thought I might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb andstopped on till the end.a black sheep害群之马，败家子Every privileged class tries at first to whitewash its blacksheep; if they prove incorrigible, theyre kicked out.Monkeymonkey about / around胡闹，恶作剧The boys were monkeying about in the playground, and one of themgot hurt.monkey with胡乱折腾，瞎摆弄Youll break the TV if you dont stop monkeying about with it.get (have) ones monkey up生气，发脾气Dont get your monkey up for nothing.Cockcock ones snook (snoot) to (at) sb.瞧不起某人The artist cocked a snook at the critics by exhibiting an emptyframe.cock up把弄糟They completely cocked up the arrangements for our holiday.Doga dog in the manger占着茅坑不拉屎的人，自私自利的人Dont be such a dog in the manger. Lend your bicycle to him sinceyou will not go out this afternoon.top dog处于支配地位Brazilcan well be said to be the top dog in the soccer circles ofthe world.lead a dogs life过困苦的生活Many new immigrants in the U.S. initially endure a dogs life.put on the dog炫耀，摆阔；竭力表现自己，似乎自己非常重要，而事实并非如此They put on the dog in front of their guests, but the guests werenot impressed.Pigpigs might fly无稽之谈，奇迹可能会发生“